Multiple head screw driver and the like



May 20, 1941. c. R. THOMPSON MULTIPLE HEAD SCREW DRIVER AND THE LIKE Filed April 12, 1939 1N VENTOR. cggde f3 Thom/96072,

ATTORNEY Patented May 20, 1941 UNITED STATES Parent GFFlCE MULTIPLE HEAD SCREW DRIVER AND THE LIKE Clyde R. Thompson, Salt Lake City, Utah Application April 12, 1%9, Serial No. 267,367

3 Claims. (Cl. l4550) The present invention relates to tools, and more in particular to multiple head screw drivers and the like.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a multiple head tool wherein a main driving head is provided and a plurality of sup plemental heads are mounted thereon which may be readily moved into place in driving relation with the tool for use in place of the main driving head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel multiple head screw driver provided with a plurality of supplemental heads which can be selectively manipulated to driving position whereby a plurality of driving heads of varying design may be embraced within a single tool.

The present invention also contemplates a novel construction for supplemental heads and a mounting therefor in the main part of the screw driver whereby the same, in normal inoperative position, do not in any Way interfere with the operation of the main driving head but can be readily moved into operative position as substitutes for the said main driving head.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of the supplemental heads in respect of the main head whereby said supplemental heads may be selectively moved into and held in operative position in the plane of the main working blade.

As additional features of construction, the present invention embodies in its scope the provision of novel means in the form of rearwardly opening slots for the supplemental heads adapted, when the said heads are in extended position with respect to the main head, to be received by the said main head to effect driving cooperation between the main head and the supplemental heads. As a further feature of construction, abutment means is provided for limiting the movement of said supplemental heads with respect to the main head. Still further, the invention embodies resilient means for holding the supplemental heads in a plurality of positions with respect of the main head, the same being so constructed and arranged with respect of the supplemental heads that the same can be readily moved to the various positions contemplated.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view of a tool made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the device of Figure 1 substantially normal to that of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view in longitudinal section of the tool shown in Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged end view of the working head of the said tool of the hereinbefore referred to device.

An embodiment selected to illustrate the present invention is disclosed in the drawing in the form of a multiple head screw driver comprising a shank 2 to which, at one end, is connected a handle 4 whereby the tool may be operated, this shank being provided with a working end 6 substantially H-shaped in cross section to provide oppositely disposed recesses 8 and It formed in part by the central web l2 and in part by the opposed walls l 4, i6 and I8, 29, respectively, which parts terminate at the end to provide a main working head 22 wherein the web l2 provides a working blade 24.

The confining walls of recesses 8 and I0 provide guideways for supplemental working heads 26 and 28, respectively, mounted therein for movement from an inoperative position to a position in driving relation with the driving blade 24 of the main head 22, Each of the driving heads 26 and 28 is substantially of the same construction and includes a shank 30 and a working blade 32, the working blade, however, of these two supplemental driving heads being, in the embodiment disclosed, of difierent width to accommodate different types of Work. It will be further appreciated that these driving blades may also vary as to thickness to accommodate a plurality of screw slots or the like with which the same may be used.

Each of the supplemental driving heads is formed with a rearwardly opening slot 34 having one face thereof as. a continuation of the under surface 36 of the shank and its other confining surface defined by an offset lug or bracket 38, which slot 34 is adapted to receive the main working blade 2 for holding the supplemental head in driving relation thereto when the said supplemental head is moved into working position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The two supplemental heads 26 and 28 are positioned within their respective guideways by way of springs 40 and 42, respectively, connected as by means of rivets 44 to the shank 2 of the device and adapted to resiliently engage the said heads to prevent displacement either when the heads are in an inoperative position or in driving relation with the main driving blade 24.

The recesses 8 and I terminate, respectively, in the abutment walls 46 and 48, limiting the movement of said supplemental heads in one vide an abutment means adapted to cooperate with the abutments 52 of the said supplemental heads when either one is moved outwardly to be engaged in operative driving relation to the driving blade 24.

As a further feature of construction, the web I2 tapers forwardly from the abutment walls 46 and 48 to the driving blade 24 whereby the recesses 8 and Ill are progressively deepened outwardly toward said working blade 24 to accommodate the offset brackets 33 of the supplemental heads so that when said supplemental heads are in operative position, the same do not project to any great extent from. the device. Furthermore, the supplemental heads may be provided with a roughened surface as at '6, such surface being illustrated as alternate ridge and groove construction in the present embodiment whereby the heads may be readily moved into and out of operative position by applying pressure thereto at the said surface 56.

As an additional feature of construction to assure efi'icient operation of the tool when either of the supplemental heads is used, the slot 34 of each is so disposed in respect to the working blade 32 thereof that when the said supplemental heads are in driving relation to the blade 24, the

-working blade 32 thereof is in the longitudinal plane of the device in substantial alignment with the said driving blade 24. This avoids eccentricity "between supplemental driving blades 32 and the driving blade '24, thus providing proper driving relation of the supplemental blade with respect of the main shank 2.

As will be clearly apparent from an inspection of the drawing, and particularly Figure 3 thereof, movement of either one of the supplemental blades forwardly within its guideway will position the head thereof so that the bracket 38 clears the forward end of the main driving blade 24. This outward movement is limited by way of the abutments 52 and 54 to prevent disengagement of the supplemental head from the main part of the tool, after which the supplemental head can be moved slightly to the rear to effect a proper engagement of the main driving blade 24 within the slot 34. The tool is then ready for use with the selected supplemental blade in driving relation to the shank thereof. If it is then desired to use the tool for work calling for a different driving blade, as for example, one of the shape and size of the driving blade 24, this supplemental blade can be detached from the main driving blade 24 and moved into its normal inoperative position with respect to the main shank, after which the tool a can be used with the driving blade 24 as the working part thereof. If at any other time the main driving blade 24 is unsuitable for the work in hand, either one of the supplemental heads can be moved into driving relation with the shank, as above explained.

The drawing herein merely discloses the operative principles of the tool made in accordance with the present invention, and accordingly, while I have herein described and upon the drawing shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A tool comprising a shank having a primary working head provided with one driving blade and provided with at least a longitudinal recess on one side thereof, a supplemental working head having a shank and a driving blade mounted in said recess and movable longitudinally of said recess, said supplemental head having an ofiset lug spaced from the shank of said supplemental head to provide a slot in alignment with said supplemental driving blade and slidably engaging the bottom wall of said recess, said supplemental working head being adapted to be moved longitudinally of said primary working head to move the same into working position whereby the said primary driving head is engaged in said slot, a pin on one of said shanks, the other of said shanks having a slot adapted to receive said pin and to provide a stop when said supplemental working head is moved into operative position for engagement with said primary working head, an abutment on said primary shank rearwardly of said stop, said pin being disengaged from said slot during engagement of said offset lug with said bottom wall whereby said supplemental working head is movable into inoperative position in abutting relation to said abutment, and means for urging said supplemental head into engagement with said bottom. wall.

2. A tool comprising a shank H-shaped in section whereby the bottom wall and side walls form opposed recesses and said bottom wall forms one driving blade, said bottom wall decreasing in thickness toward said driving blade to increase the depth of said recesses, supplemental working heads mounted in said recesses each provided with a shank and a driving head terminating in a driving blade and having .an offset lug spaced from the shank to provide a slot in alignment with the driving blade, said supplemental working heads being operably mounted in said recesses whereby said offset lugs are in slidable engagement with said bottom wall and said supplemental working heads are selectively movable longitudinally of said primary working head into working position whereby said primary driving head is engageable in either of the slots of said supplemental working heads, an abutment pin in said bottom wall projecting into said recesses, the shanks of said supplemental working heads being provided with slots providing stops when said supplemental working heads are moved into operative position for engagement with said primary working head, said recesses terminating rearwardly of and in spaced relation to said pin to form abutments, said pin being disengaged from both of said slots during engagement of both 01" said offset lugs with said bottom wall whereby said supplemental working heads are movable into inoperative position in abutting relation with said ab-utrnents.

3. A tool comprising a shank having a primary working head provided with a driving blade and from the shank of said supplemental head, said spacing providing a slot in alignment with said supplemental driving blade and of a size to fit the end of the driving blade, said supplemental working head being adapted to be moved longitudinally of said primary Working head to move the same into Working position whereby the said primary driving head is engaged in said slot, and means for maintaining said supplemental 10 working head in position within said recess.

CLYDE R. THOMPSON. 

